Molded pulp carton



Sept. 11, 1956 A. w. VAN DYKE MOLDED PULP CARTON E'Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 12, 1954 p 1 A. w. VAN DYKE 2,762,548

MOLDED PULP CARTON 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 12, 1954 INVENTOR LOQKS ATTORNEY United States Patent i MOLDED PULP CARTON Arthur W. Van Dyke, Elizabeth, N. J., assignor to The Diamond Match Company, New York, N. Y., a cor poration of Delaware Application April 12, 1954, Serial No. 422,466

6 Claims. (Cl. 229- 25) The present invention relates to molded pulp cartons. More particularly, the present invention relates to a molded pulp carton that is adapted to be utilized as a liner for an open type container and for packaging and displaying food products or the like.

The molded pulp cartons known hereto-fore utilized for the purpose of displaying and packaging pies, cakes, eggs, and other food products, have been generally molded in a specific configuration. These heretofore known molded cartons were formed either in a cellular formation or were of the open type. The carton embodied in the present invention is the open type carton and is distinguished from the cellular carton, which is defined as that type adapted to receive eggs or other frangible objects.

Prior to the instant invention, the heretofore known open type molded cartons have been formed or molded in that position in which they are adapted to be utilized, that is, they were constructed in accordance with the end use of the carton. However, by so forming the heretofore known cartons in this manner, the formation of the carton was necessarily restricted to a specific configuration since it was desirable to nest the cartons for shipping. Consequently, the open type molded cartons known heretofore have generally been molded in the form of a plate or dish having a relatively short side wall that is sloped and adapted particularly for the nesting of the cartons for shipping purposes.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a carton which is molded in a nesting position and is subsequently disposed in a display position for receiving food articles or the like.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a molded pulp carton that is formed with movable portions, the movable portions being initially adapted for nesting and thereafter being moved to a display position.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a molded pulp carton having a center section that cooperates with depending portions to form a complete box liner for insertion into an open container.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a molded pulp carton having a center section and a plurality of depending portions joined thereto, the carton being formed on a single mold and stripped therefrom, the Walls of said depending portions being divergent to said center section, thereby enabling the cartonto be nested with other similarly molded cartons for shipping.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a molded pulp carton which includes a center section and a plurality of depending portions joined to the center section, the depending portions being molded divergent to said center section to define a nesting position and thereafter being moved to a display position.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a molded carton wherein the side walls are perpen- 2,762,548 Patented Sept. 11, 1956 2 dicular to the bottom wall thereof when the carton is disposed in the display position.

Other objects and the nature and advantages of the instant invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a plan view of the bottom of the carton as molded and represents the position of the carton as it is stripped from the mold;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the carton illustrated in Fig. 1; g b

Fig. 3 is a view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view illustrating the use of the molded carton embodied in the present invention as a box liner, the molded carton being disposed in an open folded container formed of paper;

Fig. 5 is a view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4 and further illustrates in dotted lines the insertion of the molded carton into the folded paper container;

Fig. 6 is a plan view illustrating a modification of the use of the molded carton embodied in the present invention;

Fig. 7 is a view taken on the line 7'7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a plan View of a modified carton embodied in the present invention, the carton being shown in the display position;

Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view of the carton shown in Fig. 8 and illustrates the position in which the carton is stripped from the mold;

Fig. 10 is a side 'elevatibnal view of the carton illustrated in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a bottom plan view of another modified carton illustrating the position in which the carton is stripped from the mold;

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view of the carton shown in Fig. 11; and

Fig. 13 is atop plan view of the carton illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12 after it has been moved to the display position.

For the purpose of describing the present invention, the molded carton is described herein as being molded in a nesting position and being utilized in a display position. The nesting. position refers to that position of the carton in which it is molded and in which it is adapted to be nested with similar cartons for the purpose of shipping; The display position refers to that posi-' tion in which the molded carton is disposed after being moved from the nesting position and in which it is adapted to receive food articles or the like for the pu'rpose of display.

Generally, the present invention involves a molded pulp carton that is adapted for particular use as a liner for a folded type paper container. The carton embodied herein comprises a fiat center section which includes a plurality of depending portions joiiied thereto. The carton is molded with the depending portions disposed divergent to the center section, which formation defines a nesting position for the carton. In the nesting position, the carton is adapted to be nested with other similar cartons and a relatively large number of cartons may thereby be conveniently shipped without unduly occupying valuable space. When the carton" is adapted to be utilized in a display position; the depending portions are moved such that a bottom wall formed thereon is disposed in acommon plane with the center section, and side walls formed on the depending portions then form the sides of the carton. The complete carton; if it is to be utilized as a liner, is then inserted into" an open type paper container.

Referring now to the drawings and-particularly to Figs. 1-, 2 and 3, the carton embo'died'in the presentvinvention is illustrated as it is molded in the nesting position and includes a center section and a plurality of depending portions generally indicated at 12 joined to the center section 10. The depending portions 12 include a bottom wall 14 which is formed in a triangular configuration, one side of which is hingedly joined to the center section 10 along the line 16. Integrally joined to the triangularshaped bottom wall 14 of each of the depending portions 12 and disposed perpendicular thereto are side walls 18 and 20, the side walls 18 and being joined together at the corner of the depending portion 12 along a line 22 and forming a right angle at the corner. Each of the depending portions 12 thereby defines a partial container having one open side adjacent the center section 10 and the remaining sides being closed by the side walls 18 and 20. In the molded or nesting position shown in Figs. 1-3, the walls of the depending portions 12 are molded divergent to the center section 10, thereby providing for nesting with similar cartons. In this position, the triangularly shaped bottom walls 14 are divergent to the center section 10 and furthermore the side walls 18, 20 which are perpendicular to the bottom walls 14 are located in a plane that is divergent to the center section 10. When it is desirable to store or ship the molded cartons, they may be nested or stacked as illustrated in Fig. 3. When the molded cartons are nested, the center sections 10 of each carton are disposed in parallel relation and the walls of each of the depending portions are also disposed in parallel relation, thereby enabling the cartons to nest within one another. It is apparent that by molding the carton in the nesting position, a great number of cartons may be packaged for shipping, which would not be possible if the molded carton described herein were formed or molded in the position of its end use.

The description of the carton described above has been directed to the manner in which the carton is actually molded and to the configuration of the molded carton. It is apparent that the carton in this position is not to be used for display purposes, and therefore the depending portions 12 must be rotated into the display position. Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, the carton is illustrated in a display position after it has been inserted into an open container 24. The open container may be formed of any suitable material or by any suitable method but it is understood that the container will generally be formed of a paper material and is folded into the box position illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. A shown particularly in Fig. 4, the depending portions 12 have been rotated around the lines 16 such that the triangularly shaped bottom walls 14 are disposed in a common plane with the center section 10 and an enlarged bottom wall is thereby formed which is adapted to be fitted into the container 24. The side walls 18 and 20 of the depending portions 12 when rotated to the display position define the side walls of the carton and the corners 22 joining the side walls 18, 20, in turn, form the corners of the carton.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the center section 10 of the carton embodied in the present invention is illustrated as being of a square configuration. However, it is understood that the center section 10 may be formed having any number of sides and having depending therefrom a corresponding number of depending portions 12. The carton in the display position, in any of the modified forms, would then be formed in a configuration corresponding to the number of sides of the carton and, if utilized as a liner, would be inserted into a paper container having a corresponding configuration.

When the carton is disposed in the display position, the side walls thereof, which are defined by the side walls 18 and 20 of the depending portions 12, are split at a medium point as indicated by the lines 26. The split lines 26 are defined by the ends of the depending portion sidewalls 18 and 20, which are moved into engagement when the depending portions 12 are rotated to the display position.

When the molded carton is inserted into the open container 24, it is moved from the nesting position illustrated in Figs. l3 to the display position shown in Figs. 4 and 5. As illustrated more particularly in Fig. 5, the molded carton is shown in dotted lines being inserted into the open container 24, the under side of the bottom walls 14 and the side walls 18 and 20 of the depending portions 12 facing the open container 24. Pressure in the direction of the arrow then positively positions the molded carton in the container 24 and the molded carton thereby forms a liner for the container. As contrasted with heretofore known molded cartons, the side walls of the present carton are disposed in perpendicular relation with respect to the bottom wall and thereby provide a more suitable container for receiving articles for display. Moreover, the side walls may be formed with any dimension desired. Since the container 24 is formed of a relatively light weight paper material, the heavier molded carton cooperates with the container to form a rigid and stable structure. The assembled container is both economical to manufacture and ship, and simple to assemble. It is understood, of course, that the molded carton may also be employed as a container by itself, not requiring any auxiliary containers, by simply securing the side walls 18, 20 by a convenient means, such as, for example, an adhesive paper.

Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7, a modified end use of the molded carton is illustrated. As contrasted with the use of the carton illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the depending portions 12 are rotatably retracted from their molded or nesting position about the lines 16 through an angle greater than 90 but less than 180 until the triangular bottom walls 14 are in face-to-face relation with the center section 10. As shown in Fig. 6, the bottom walls 14 of the depending portions 12 thereby define a plurality of cells having outer open sides. The newly formed cellular carton with the outer open sides may then be inserted into an open paper container or the like and forms therewith a cellular carton having triangular cells. The above-described movement of the depending portions 12, whereby the bottom walls 14 are positioned in faceto-face relation with the center section 10, is shown by the arrows in Fig. 7. The article which is to be displayed may then be inserted into the cellular carton and acts to retain the depending portions 12 in their retracted position. If the article is to be offered for sale, or is to be shipped in the container, a convenient overwrap may be secured to the underside of the container and wrapped around the top of the article disposed in the cellular portion of the container and then secured to the carton by some convenient means.

Referring to Figs. 8-10, a modified form of a molded I carton is illustrated and includes a center section 30 and a plurality of depending portions generally indicated at 32, the depending portions 32 being joined to the center section 30. The depending portions 32 include a bottom wall 34 which is formed in a trapezoidal configuration and one side of which is hingedly connected to the center section 30 along a line 36. integrally joined to the trapezoidal-shaped bottom wall 34 of each of the depending portions 32 and disposed perpendicular thereto are nonparallel side walls 38 and 40, the non-parallel side walls 38 and 40 in turn being integrally joined to a rear wall 42. The depending portions 32 thus define a partial container having an open side adjacent the center section 30 and the remaining sides being defined by the walls 38, 4t) and 42. In the molded or nesting position of the modified carton, the walls of the depending portions are molded divergent to the center section 30, thereby providing for nesting of the carton with similar cartons when the cartons are to be shipped or stored. In this position, the trapezoidal-shaped bottom wall of each depending portion is molded divergent to the center section 30.

As shown in Fig. 8, the carton is illustrated in a display position after the depending portions 32 have been moved from the molded position illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10.

As described above in connection with the carton illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, the depending portions 32 are rotated around the lines 36, such that the tr-apezoidal shaped bottom walls 34 are disposed in a common plane with the center section 30 and thus an enlarged bottom wall is formed. The configuration of the completed carton as shown in Fig. 8 forms an octagonal figure, the rear Walls 42 and the non-parallel side walls 38 and 40 defining the outer walls of the carton. The carton in this position is adapted to receive any suitable article or may be inserted into a similarly shaped liner, and an overwrap may be provided if an article of food is to be inserted in the carton.

Referring now to Figs. 11-13, a further modified form of the present invention is illustrated and difiers from those forms described hereinabove in that the center section is eliminated, the carton comprising two depending portions which are generally indicated at 44 and 46 and are joined together along a center fold line 48. Each of the depending portions includes a triangularly shaped bottom wall 50 which has integrally joined thereto and perpendicular therewith side walls 52 and 54. The depending portion side walls 52 and 54 are joined together at the edges thereof to define a corner line 56 and thus each depending portion is formed as a partial container having an open side facing the opposite depending portion.

Fig. 11 illustrates the position in which the carton is stripped from the mold and shows the bottom walls 50 being joined along the center line 48 and disposed in divergent relation. When it is desired to move the carton from the molded or nesting position shown in Figs. 11 and 12, the bottom Walls 50 are rotated from the diver gent position as molded to the position shown in Fig. 13, wherein the bottom walls are disposed in a common plane. The side walls 52, 54 in the display position illustrated in Fig. 13 thereby define the sides of the carton and form a completely closed carton which is adapted to receive an article for display or may be inserted into a liner and thereafter receive an article for display.

As described hereinabove, the carton embodied in the present invention is molded from a pulp material and is adapted to be stripped from the molding dies in the open or nesting position. By molding the carton in the open position, the stripping operation is greatly facilitated, particularly since the walls of the depending portions are located in divergent relation with respect to the center section.

It is apparent from the description of the invention that the molded carton embodied herein may be formed as a carton for receiving articles or may be designed for use as a liner for an open type container. The carton is initially molded in a nesting position and in this position may be conveniently nested for shipping. When the carton is to be utilized for display, it is quickly and simply moved to the display position.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and therefore the invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a molded pulp carton, a center section, depend ing portions joined to said center section, each of said depending portions including a triangular bottom wall having an open side adjacent said center section and side walls joined to the other sides thereof, said depending portion bottom walls being molded in a different plane than said center section, thereby defining a nesting position of said carton and bein movable into coplanar relation with said center section when said carton is located in a display position.

2. In a molded pulp carton as set forth in claim 1, wherein said depending portion side walls cooperate to form the Walls of the carton when said carton is located in the display position.

3. In a molded pulp carton, a center section, depending portions joined to said center section, each of said depending portions including a trapezoidal bottom wall havan open side adjacent said center section and side walls and a rear wall joined to the other sides of said bottom wall, said depending portion bottom walls being molded in a different plane than said center section to define a nesting position of said carton, and being movable into coplanar relation with said center section when said carton is located in a display position.

4. in a molded pulp carton, a center section defining a portion of the bottom of the carton, a plurality of depending portions hingcdly joined to said center section, said depending portions including a bottom wall and side walls, each of said bottom walls being molded in a different plane than said center section and rotatable about the hinge axis thereof, said bottom walls being located in coplanar relation with respect to said center section in the rotated position.

5. In a molded pulp carton, a center section, depending portions joined to said center section, each of said depending portions including a bottom wall hingcdly joined to said center section and molded in a different plane with respect thereto, said bottom walls having side walls joined thereto in perpendicular relation therewith, said depending portions being rotatable about the hinge aXes thereof to locate said bottom walls in coplanar relation with said center section, said side walls thereby being moved into perpendicular relation with respect to said center section to define the sides of said carton.

6. In a molded pulp carton, a center section, depending portions joined to said center section, each of said depending portions including side walls and a bottom wall, said bottom wall being joined to said center section and molded in a different plane with respect thereto, the combined area of said bottom walls being substantially equal to the area of said center section, said depending portions being rotatable about the hinge axes thereof until the bottom walls are located in abutting relation with said center section, the depending portions and center section thereby forming a cellular liner that is adapted to be inserted into an open container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 362,845 Kinney May 10, 1887 1,124,875 Dishmaker Jan. 12, 1915 1,508,069 Rose Sept. 9, 1924 2,307,076 Ray Jan. 5, 1943 2,466,579 Cox Apr. 5, 1949 

